Almost everyone has had to put together furniture, toys for the kids, or something for the car before. Chances are, each and every one of these projects required the extensive use of hand tools - wrenches, screwdrivers, and the like. Fortunately, just about everyone has these tools around, so actually getting the job done is rarely a problem. Getting the job done reasonably fast, however, often is a problem, since most families don't have a wealth of power tools lying around. The most important - and by most important, we mean most useful and most ubiquitous - power tool you'll probably find is the power drill.
Power drills are popular, useful, and important elements of any complete toolbox. Most people get by without ever needing a power drill, but those who /do/ need drilling technology for their daily work or home-improvement projects almost universally can't function with a hand drill. Considering that most people, as a matter of fact, don't even know what a hand drill is, and that drilling is necessary in most, if not all, heavy-duty home-improvement projects, it's easy to see why a power drill might be a necessary tool for the dedicated DIYer. Here, we'll take a look at some things you should consider before buying your first power drill. If you are simply looking for the best powerdrill, i highly recommend to check out this review at toolerant
Comfort & Handle Shaping
Comfort is important in buying any tool, but power drills, in particular, have a tendency to be used for hours at a time. This means that comfort is not only significant, but absolutely crucial. There are three handle styles associated with modern power drills. There is a "T-style" grip, which has most of its controls near its center for easy access and easy control. The traditional pistol-style grip is the one most of us are familiar with, and is preferred by some of the older hands in the business of home improvement, although it has a tendency to be a little less comfortable than the T-style models. There is also a right-angle grip design, which is perfect for projects in which space will be restricted seerely.
Power
The oomph your drill packs is, obviously, important. You'll need to consider the different ways to measure drill power when you head to your local Home Depot or Lowe's. When considering cordless drills, you'll be looking a measurements of power that come in voltage. This is effectively a measure of the magnitude of the electric driving force in the motor, so a higher voltage cordless drill is, in general, more powerful than a lower voltage drill. Drills that receive power from a cord are, as a general rule, more powerful than most cordless ones, and have their power measured in amps. A high-amp drill is one that draws more electricity per second from the outlet than one with a low amperage, so high-powered corded drills typically have high amperage.
Speed
The next thing you want to consider is drill speed. Now, the best drills don't come in "high speed" and "low speed" models or anything like that. Rather, you'll be looking for a variable speed drill. This is just what it sounds like: A drill with an adjustable speed that allows you to work with different bits and different materials. Remember, things like masonry need to be worked at lower speeds and with larger bits, which immediately eliminates all sorts of stonework from the list of things you're qualified to do if you have an exclusively high speed drill. On the other hand, soft woods can be worked at high speeds, but not very well at low speeds, which introduces problems if you only have a drill dedicated to stone projects. Even if you think you'll mainly be working in one or the other, it's best to have a variable speed drill, as this will allow you flexibility in dealing with your primary medium and to expand into different sorts of projects down the line. Another aspect of speed has to do with the clutch settings.
An adjustable clutch setting allows the drill to adjust the bit speed as a function of the material's density, which changes as the screw gets driven deeper. This allows users to drill consistent holes. More experienced users can get away with nothing in the way of the clutch, but beginners definitely benefit from the feature, and it never hurts to have as a backup.
Drill Chucks
Drill bits are inserted at the chuck. When you buy a drill, you'll buy it in a certain size: 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". These measurements refer to the chuck diameter. The choice depends on your primary line of work, but in general, a 3/8" bit is sufficient for most DIYers at home. Chucks can be tightened or loosened, either with a key (so-called keyed chucks) or by hand (keyless chucks). Keyless chucks are obviously preferable for most people who will be working with the drill individually, as it's easy to modify the tightness on the fly. Keyed chucks are preferable for those who work in teams, but don't want people adjusting the chuck tightness without consulting the "drillmaster".
General Considerations
If you plan to use your power drill with screwdriver bits, you'll need a reversible drill. This allows you to loosen and tighten screws as you go. You should also consider buying extra batteries if you purchase a cordless machine. This will allow you to use the drill more consistently, without having to take breaks to charge it. In general, batteries come in rather generic sizes and voltages, but there are some fancy, rechargeable, variable-voltage batteries that have extra long lives and other features that might be desirable for certain people. Finally, keep in mind that torque measures the rotational force the drill can exert. HIgh torque means a lo of force, which might be desirable for those who find themselves doing a large amount of work in stone or other stiffer materials.
Summary
Choosing a power drill can be a challenge, but only if you don't have any idea as to what to look for. This overview should be enough to allow you to make a solid choice - write the big ideas down, and get out there with your new handheld power tool! And always remember: Stay safe!
Power drills are popular, useful, and important elements of any complete toolbox. Most people get by without ever needing a power drill, but those who /do/ need drilling technology for their daily work or home-improvement projects almost universally can't function with a hand drill. Considering that most people, as a matter of fact, don't even know what a hand drill is, and that drilling is necessary in most, if not all, heavy-duty home-improvement projects, it's easy to see why a power drill might be a necessary tool for the dedicated DIYer. Here, we'll take a look at some things you should consider before buying your first power drill. If you are simply looking for the best powerdrill, i highly recommend to check out this review at toolerant
Comfort & Handle Shaping
Comfort is important in buying any tool, but power drills, in particular, have a tendency to be used for hours at a time. This means that comfort is not only significant, but absolutely crucial. There are three handle styles associated with modern power drills. There is a "T-style" grip, which has most of its controls near its center for easy access and easy control. The traditional pistol-style grip is the one most of us are familiar with, and is preferred by some of the older hands in the business of home improvement, although it has a tendency to be a little less comfortable than the T-style models. There is also a right-angle grip design, which is perfect for projects in which space will be restricted seerely.
Power
The oomph your drill packs is, obviously, important. You'll need to consider the different ways to measure drill power when you head to your local Home Depot or Lowe's. When considering cordless drills, you'll be looking a measurements of power that come in voltage. This is effectively a measure of the magnitude of the electric driving force in the motor, so a higher voltage cordless drill is, in general, more powerful than a lower voltage drill. Drills that receive power from a cord are, as a general rule, more powerful than most cordless ones, and have their power measured in amps. A high-amp drill is one that draws more electricity per second from the outlet than one with a low amperage, so high-powered corded drills typically have high amperage.
Speed
The next thing you want to consider is drill speed. Now, the best drills don't come in "high speed" and "low speed" models or anything like that. Rather, you'll be looking for a variable speed drill. This is just what it sounds like: A drill with an adjustable speed that allows you to work with different bits and different materials. Remember, things like masonry need to be worked at lower speeds and with larger bits, which immediately eliminates all sorts of stonework from the list of things you're qualified to do if you have an exclusively high speed drill. On the other hand, soft woods can be worked at high speeds, but not very well at low speeds, which introduces problems if you only have a drill dedicated to stone projects. Even if you think you'll mainly be working in one or the other, it's best to have a variable speed drill, as this will allow you flexibility in dealing with your primary medium and to expand into different sorts of projects down the line. Another aspect of speed has to do with the clutch settings.
An adjustable clutch setting allows the drill to adjust the bit speed as a function of the material's density, which changes as the screw gets driven deeper. This allows users to drill consistent holes. More experienced users can get away with nothing in the way of the clutch, but beginners definitely benefit from the feature, and it never hurts to have as a backup.
Drill Chucks
Drill bits are inserted at the chuck. When you buy a drill, you'll buy it in a certain size: 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2". These measurements refer to the chuck diameter. The choice depends on your primary line of work, but in general, a 3/8" bit is sufficient for most DIYers at home. Chucks can be tightened or loosened, either with a key (so-called keyed chucks) or by hand (keyless chucks). Keyless chucks are obviously preferable for most people who will be working with the drill individually, as it's easy to modify the tightness on the fly. Keyed chucks are preferable for those who work in teams, but don't want people adjusting the chuck tightness without consulting the "drillmaster".
General Considerations
If you plan to use your power drill with screwdriver bits, you'll need a reversible drill. This allows you to loosen and tighten screws as you go. You should also consider buying extra batteries if you purchase a cordless machine. This will allow you to use the drill more consistently, without having to take breaks to charge it. In general, batteries come in rather generic sizes and voltages, but there are some fancy, rechargeable, variable-voltage batteries that have extra long lives and other features that might be desirable for certain people. Finally, keep in mind that torque measures the rotational force the drill can exert. HIgh torque means a lo of force, which might be desirable for those who find themselves doing a large amount of work in stone or other stiffer materials.
Summary
Choosing a power drill can be a challenge, but only if you don't have any idea as to what to look for. This overview should be enough to allow you to make a solid choice - write the big ideas down, and get out there with your new handheld power tool! And always remember: Stay safe!